Michael Mosley's son shares rare insight nearly a year after father's tragic death
The son of beloved British doctor-turned-broadcaster Michael Mosley has remembered him as a 'fantastic family man' who made a difference to 'millions of people's lives' as it nears one year since he tragically died.
Mosley went missing for four days during an ill-fated walk while on holidays to the Greek Island of Symi.
An exhaustive search on air, land and sea soon followed.
Tragically, his body was eventually found on a rocky slope, above a beach on the island.
A post-mortem examination revealed he died of 'natural causes' after suffering from heat exhaustion during an ill-fated walk.
He was aged just 67. Jack Mosely appeared on Weekend Sunrise on Saturday, speaking about his father. Credit: Seven
Prior to his death, Mosley gained the affections of millions of viewers for his intelligence and resolve to put his own body on the line for the sake of medical self-experimentation.
On Saturday, Mosley' son, Dr Jack Mosley, joined David Woiwod and Sally Bowrey on Weekend Sunrise, where he gave a personal update on himself and his family.
'I'm holding-up ok, I think it's been a really tough time for me and my family,' Mosley said, candidly.
'He was a fantastic man. He was a maverick. He was a master self-experimenter.
'I think he made such a difference to millions of people's lives.'
Giving rare insight into family life, Mosely praised his father.
'He was he was a fantastic dad and a and a fantastic family man.
'He's really missed. I remember him as a very fun, caring dad who would always be there for you when you needed him.
'I think he was so great at keeping the family together.
'He would always make sure there was a date in the diary (for a catch up).
'Even when we left home, so that we all got together. Michael Mosley passed away a nearly ago, after suffering from heat exhaustion during an ill-fated walk. Credit: AAP
'I think one thing that has happened is, in a way, his death has actually brought us closer together as a family.
'And I think that's something he would have been really happy with.'
Now, Jack, a doctor himself trained in emergency medicine, has now released his debut book, Food Noise.
The book is about our internal food monologue.
He delves into weight loss medication like Ozempic, which has become wildly popular.
'It feels incredible to be able to continue on some of his mission,' Jack said of honouring his father's legacy.
'Food noise, it's that distracting inner voice that tells you to grab that chocolate slice or grab that packet of biscuits or that big bag of crisps, even if you're not necessarily hungry.
'The weight loss drugs are so effective at quietening this noise, I kind of like to think of them as these noise cancelling headphones you put on (to change your habits).
'You go about your life, and you can block out that distracting voice that tells you to grab that processed junk food that you don't always need.
'But you know that food noise does come rushing back with a vengeance when you stop the weight loss medications.'
Jack explained he doesn't think weight loss medications are bad.
Instead, he believes they aren't the magic bullet they are being sold as to consumers.
'I think a lot of people are using them like a sledgehammer,' he said.
'People are being ramped-up to incredibly high doses of these medications. So, they may be getting more extreme side effects.'
Jack said there's four key problems with the drugs, in his opinion.
'Firstly, people may not be getting the most out of them.
'They may not be losing as much weight on them as we see in the studies.
'Secondly, people might be getting some malnutrition.
'So, we've seen in the UK, (pop singer) Robbie Williams developed scurvy on these medications.
'I think thirdly, muscle loss, that was something that was something that my dad was concerned about because it's so important for longevity, for your metabolism and for reducing fragility in later life.
'Finally, when you stop these weight loss medications, unless you've got a plan and a nutritional strategy, then it's likely you will put the weight back on.
'We see people put on two thirds of the weight that they originally lost.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
Lexi's genetic condition keeps her obese. But her family can't afford life-changing medication
Lexi's genetic disorder, which keeps her constantly hungry, has rendered her bariatric surgery ineffective. So she's hoping weight-loss drugs could help her. Source: SBS / Colin Cosier for Dateline Watch Dateline's documentary 'Born Big' on 3 June at 9.30pm on SBS or SBS On Demand. By her 12th birthday, Lexi weighed 116kg — almost three times the average weight of an American girl her age. By the time she turned 13, she had 80 per cent of her stomach removed through bariatric surgery. She initially lost 29kg . But nine months after the operation, she regained some weight, and her intense hunger returned. Lexi has MC4R gene deficiency. It disrupts the brain's ability to regulate appetite, resulting in weight gain and a constant feeling of insatiable hunger. Nearly three years after her surgery, Lexi, now 15, is exploring alternative options. "I'd like to be a size where I can go out and play sports again, like I used to when I was younger," she says. She was recently prescribed Wegovy, a weight-loss medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of obesity in people aged 12 and older. Wegovy belongs to the new class of injectable medications, originally used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes but now FDA-approved for long-term weight management. These drugs — primarily semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (marketed under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound) — mimic GLP-1 hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite, helping patients feel fuller for longer. They have been popularised by celebrities and on social media. According to a 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , prescriptions of these drugs for teens and young adults in the United States increased by 600 per cent between 2020 and 2023 — with the overwhelming majority being teenage girls. One in five children and adolescents in the US are affected by obesity. In January 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the largest professional association of paediatricians in the US, updated its guidelines for treating children with obesity — for the first time in 15 years. It now recommends early medical interventions such as surgery and weight-loss drugs, in addition to lifestyle and behaviour changes. Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, says there's been "a noticeable shift in recent years in how obesity and obesity medications are discussed within the paediatric and broader medical fields". "There is growing recognition of obesity as a complex, chronic disease rather than a simple consequence of lifestyle choices," she says. "The increasing visibility and acceptance of pharmacological treatments as legitimate components of obesity management reflect this change, although stigma still exists and must be continually addressed." However, she says irreversible treatment such as bariatric surgery and indefinite use of medication at age 12 "must be approached with caution". It's important to balance the potential benefits of anti-obesity drugs against the unknown long-term effects, she says. "I advise families to consider the improvement in quality of life and reduction in obesity-related health risks as significant benefits," she says. "However, the psychological and emotional aspects, such as body image, potential dependence on medication, and identity formation, should be openly discussed." Lexi's mum Brandy was initially against injectable GLP-1 drugs. "I wanted her to be a little older," she says. Now, looking back, she says she would have started with medication rather than surgery for Lexi. "Surgery is final ... there's no reversing it," she says, adding that she believes bariatric surgery remains an essential option if other treatments fall short. Bariatric surgery usually leads to substantial weight loss, but Lexi's MC4R deficiency made her procedure far less effective. "The conversation is changing," Brandy says. "I remember the first weight loss hospital we went to, they literally just gave us a portion plate and sent us home." Now, "the availability and the options for people, it's great, [and] it needs to keep going." In April, Lexi was prescribed Wegovy. But the family has been locked in a battle with their insurance provider to secure even partial coverage for the medication's cost. Despite more weight-loss drugs hitting the market, many people in the US still can't afford them. A month's supply of Wegovy, for example, can cost approximately US$1,350 ($2,100) — that's over US$16,000 ($25,000) each year. Medicare, the federal health insurance, is prohibited from covering weight-loss drugs by law. Most private health plans don't cover them either, primarily, due to their high cost. Bariatric surgery, on the other hand, is covered by insurance companies. In April, the Trump administration rejected a Biden-era proposal to expand Medicare coverage of anti-obesity drugs such as Wegovy. However, GLP-1 drugs have become a target of a new executive order, signed by US President Donald Trump in May, aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, which are notoriously high in the US compared to other developed nations. In the meantime, Lexi has seen some progress with an oral appetite suppressant, Qsymia, to help regulate her hunger. She's lost weight and had her obesity reduced from class 3 to class 2. But the journey has been mentally draining, she says. "You just feel kind of defeated because , you're like, ' what am I supposed to do when my options run out?" Watch now
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Parents spending thousands to choose baby's sex
Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different. Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo. Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons. "I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP. "My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family." Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons. Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said. As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. "The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said. "The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access." Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex. The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added. "The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said. "Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that." Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes. The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said. "The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said. "Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant." The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many. It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments. While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience. "I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said. "I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening." Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different. Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo. Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons. "I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP. "My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family." Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons. Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said. As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. "The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said. "The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access." Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex. The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added. "The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said. "Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that." Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes. The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said. "The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said. "Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant." The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many. It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments. While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience. "I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said. "I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening." Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different. Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo. Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons. "I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP. "My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family." Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons. Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said. As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. "The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said. "The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access." Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex. The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added. "The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said. "Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that." Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes. The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said. "The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said. "Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant." The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many. It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments. While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience. "I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said. "I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening." Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different. Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo. Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons. "I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP. "My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family." Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons. Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said. As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. "The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said. "The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access." Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex. The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added. "The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said. "Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that." Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes. The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said. "The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said. "Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant." The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many. It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments. While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience. "I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said. "I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Parents spending thousands to choose baby's sex
Stacey Hughes always knew she wanted to have a little girl, but her pathway to getting there was a little different. Already a mum to three boys, in 2019 she travelled with her family to undergo IVF in the United States, where the team implanted a female embryo. Ms Hughes is one of hundreds of Australian parents who choose to travel overseas for sex selection, a practice that is not permitted in Australia other than for medical reasons. "I didn't want a fourth child, I wanted a girl," Ms Hughes told AAP. "My mum passed away in 2009 so I didn't have that mother-daughter relationship anymore and I just also wanted to have a girl in our family." Experts say Ms Hughes is not alone, with parents wanting to select a boy or a girl for family balancing reasons. Australia previously allowed sex selection for non-medical reasons, however in the early 2000s the guidelines changed, Connect IVF scientific director Lauren Hiser said. As a result, people are choosing to travel to nations that allow it, including parts of Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. "The concern in allowing Australians to go offshore is that we can't control the quality of service they are going to get overseas," Ms Hiser said. "The Australian IVF industry is highly regulated and allowing sex selection would make it safer for people to access." Ms Hiser stressed the process was not akin to "playing God" as the embryos were made during a regular IVF process and tested for a range of genetic abnormalities which also determined their sex. The number of people wanting to select a particular sex was in the hundreds, so allowing it in Australia would not expand boy or girl ratios in a particular direction, she added. "The reality is that sex selection is happening in Australia already, just not in the IVF industry," she said. "We have non-invasive pre-natal testing at around 10 weeks, so some people are getting pregnant, determining the sex and then choosing to continue with that pregnancy or not. "Then there's the risk of people going through a termination of pregnancy with all the physical and emotional impacts that come with that." Gender Selection Australia (GSA) is a service that helps families navigate overseas IVF processes. The sex selection process often came with a lot of misinformation, GSA general manager Nikki Mason said. "The majority of people want to balance out their family, it's not about preferring one sex over another," she said. "Sex selection is not manufacturing a result, it's just revealing what (embryos) families have after a normal IVF process and then they can choose which to implant." The IVF process is already stressful and the additional overseas travel costs make it unattainable for many. It cost Ms Hughes and her family about $30,000, including medications, accommodation, flights and medical appointments. While family and friends supported her decision, she faced trolling online after she previously spoke to the media about her experience. "I don't understand (the trolling) because it doesn't really affect anyone that I've had a baby girl," she said. "I think there's a lack of understanding of the process and people thinking that you are intervening."
